Purpose: Structural economic shifts are a key sign of development in all stages globally; and these shifts may also result in the changing roles of institutions. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively analyse trends that may be used for so-called forward looking and makes use of them to recommend strategies for reorganising institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The requirements and opportunities of environmental administrations in high-income countries are used as case studies to illustrate the overall context of institutional restructuring. Luxembourg, as a present-day centre of political and strategic power within the European Union and Austria, as a neutral country formerly situated between military blocks are shown to exhibit structural and strategic similarities. Findings: Two types of quantitative assessments may support any type of institutional restructuring: first, analyses of mega-trends within the global techno-socio-economic evolution and second, options for specific action at the local site of previously industrial settlements that may be converted into centres of innovative service orientation. Practical implications: On the occasion of the recent resettlement of the Luxembourg Environmental Administration at a new site in Esch-sur-Alzette--in an area of bolder modern urbanisation built on the foundations of the former local industrial use considered--this text deliberates options to propose strategically pioneering innovations on administrative levels. Originality/value: The paper combines global analyses and local experiences in an action-oriented manner.